Modular integrated terminals and associated systems for heating and cooling

A modular terminal for applying conditioned air to one or more spaces within a building having one or more surfaces including walls, floors, and ceilings, the modular terminal comprising:

• a housing defining an interior space;
• at least one inlet air passageway formed in said housing for receiving conditioned air from a source and into the housing;
• at least one outlet air passageway formed in said housing for applying conditioned air from the housing to a space within the building;
• a grille with a plurality of flow channels that fits over the outlet air passageway;
• and
• at least one device associated with the housing for controlling the flow of air through the housing, wherein said controlling device includes a damper within the interior of said housing, said damper being aligned opposite the air inlet passageway and being moveable relative to the air inlet passageway to thereby control the flow of conditioned air to said housing through the air inlet passageway, and further wherein said damper affects both the flow of air through the air inlet passageway as well as the flow of air through the outlet air passageway, as the damper is moved from one position to another, wherein further the damper includes a slidable plate sized to block the flow of air from the air inlet passageway when it is adjacent said air inlet passageway, said plate extending adjacent the flow channels of the grille and blocking the flow of air to the flow channels of the grille on the side of the plate opposite the air inlet passageway.

A modular terminal for applying conditioned air to one or more spaces within a building having one or more surfaces including walls, floors, and ceilings, the modular terminal comprising:

• a housing defining an interior space;
• at least one inlet air passageway formed in said housing for receiving conditioned air from a source and into the housing;
• at least one outlet air passageway formed in said housing for applying conditioned air from the housing to a space within the building;
• and
• at least one device associated with the housing for controlling the flow of air through the housing, wherein said device for controlling includes a damper in the form of a plate slidable within the interior space of the housing and wherein the housing includes two inlet air passageways, one formed on each side of the damper.

A system for applying conditioned air to one or more spaces within a building having one or more surfaces including walls, floors, and ceilings, the system comprising:

• an underfloor plenum within the building to which conditioned air is to be applied;
• an air handling system for applying conditioned air to the underfloor plenum;
• and
• at least one modular terminal in a floor of the building, said modular terminal including a housing defining an interior space, at least one inlet air passageway formed in said housing and in fluid communication with said underfloor plenum, at least one outlet air passageway formed in said housing for applying conditioned air from the housing to a space within the building, and at least one device associated with the housing for controlling the flow of air through the housing, said housing being symmetrically shaped relative to the opening so that it can fit in a plurality of positions within said opening, whereby the flow of air through the housing can be varied by altering the relative position of the housing within the opening.

A method for applying conditioned air to one or more spaces within a building having one or more surfaces including walls, floors, and ceilings, the method comprising:

• forming an underfloor plenum within the building;
• applying conditioned air to the underfloor plenum through an air handling system;
• placing within the floor of the building a plurality of modular terminals, each modular terminal having at least one inlet air passageway in fluid communication with an air source and at least one outlet air passageway for applying conditioned air to a space within the building;
• selectively altering the position of the terminal and its inlet air passageway relative to the flow of conditioned air, to thereby vary the flow of air into the terminal;
• sensing a parameter within one or more spaces to be conditioned within the building;
• and
• controlling the flow of conditioned air through the modular terminals according to the sensed parameter.

A system for applying conditioned air to one or more spaces within a building having one or more surfaces including walls, floors, and ceilings, the system comprising:

• an underfloor plenum within the building to which conditioned air is to be supplied;
• an air handling system for supplying conditioned air to the underfloor plenum;
• and
• at least one modular terminal in a floor of the building, said modular terminal including a housing defining an interior space, at least one inlet air passageway formed in said housing and in fluid communication with said underfloor plenum, at least one outlet air passageway formed in said housing for supplying conditioned air from the housing to a space within the building, and at least one device associated with the housing for controlling the flow of air through the housing;
• wherein said air handling system includes:
• at least one fan for supplying conditioned air to the underfloor plenum;
• a return air inlet for accepting return air from the building;
• an entry plenum for selectively mixing, when desired, and directing return air and outside air;
• a cooling coil;
• a filter;
• a first flow channel from the entry plenum to said filter and a second flow channel from the entry plenum to the cooling coil;
• a damper system for selectively directing part of the flow of air from the entry plenum through the cooling coil and remaining part of the air from the entry plenum through the filter;
• and
• a third flow channel downstream of the cooling coil and the filter for accepting air from the cooling coil and the filter, mixing the air, and supplying the mixed air to the underfloor plenum.